Binding Spring Love

After placing the old lady back on the soft quilt, Jiang's mother said, "Didn't you get that damn firearms formula from that little harlot?"

"The old lady said that no matter what, she would drag it out until you had established yourself in the Divine Pivot Camp. Once you returned home to observe the mourning period, the Emperor would surely take away your life, and then she would not be able to hold on any longer."

Jiang's mother has shed countless tears these past few days, but even when her tears have dried up, she has to keep going.

After carefully tucking the old lady in with the blanket and placing several soft goose-feather pillows under her elbows, Jiang's mother asked, "By the way, how's the firearm coming along? Is it strong enough for the Emperor to be reinstated after his mourning period? Only you can do it?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xingjian lowered his eyes and remained silent.

The ridiculous firearm formula that Lin Jiayue provided was immediately seen through by the person in charge of weaponry research at the Shen Shu Camp as soon as it was delivered. Although the formula was written in great detail, it was clearly just a more powerful firecracker.

This stuff was tossed aside as soon as it was delivered, and no one paid it any attention. Fortunately, the fact that she added tung oil and flour to it was quite ingenious, and the craftsmen are now studying whether it can be incorporated into military equipment.

If it weren't for the Fifth Prince and Consort Jiang's sake, he would probably have been impeached and kicked out of the Divine Pivot Camp long ago.

Now, he goes there every day simply to smooth things over with those above and below, trying to secure a more stable position within the organization.

In any case, it is a good thing that he left the Shanglin Garden Supervisor in this way.

Jiang Xingjian turned to look at the old lady who had raised him, overwhelmed with grief. But when he faced his mother again, he smiled faintly and said, "Those firearms are quite formidable. Mother, rest assured, I will take care of everything in the manor. You don't need to worry too much."

Upon hearing this, Jiang's mother burst into tears.

"That's good, that's good. Now, Grandma..."

Jiang Xingjian gritted his teeth, unable to bear looking at Old Madam Jiang. After a long silence, he slowly said, "I hope Mother and Grandmother can help me hold on for a while longer."

After saying this, he couldn't face the two of them and fled in a sorry state.

Jiang Xingjian walked to the outer courtyard in a daze, but even the scorching sun could not dispel the chill in his body.

The Hou family's century-old legacy has been passed down through generations; it absolutely cannot be squandered in his hands.

Thinking of Duan Yiting's inexplicable visit and his grandmother's emaciated and barely clinging-to-life state during her illness, Jiang Xingjian felt as if a huge rock was pressing down on his chest.

"Is my brother feeling unwell?"

When Jiang Yanfang came out of Yulingzhai, he saw that Jiang Xingjian looked absent-minded. He thought for a moment before asking him a question.

Jiang Xingjian snapped out of his daze and realized that he had arrived at the entrance of Yulingzhai.

Jiang Xingjian hastily rubbed his face and said, "Are you busy today? If not, how about we brothers have a few drinks?"

Jiang Yan lowered his eyes and said, "It's my honor."

Inviting them into Yulingzhai, Qingzhai and Su Mian prepared dishes for the two of them, and Jiang Yan took out a jar of wine and placed it in front of Jiang Xingjian.

"It was a gift from a friend, who said it was a fine wine that my younger brother had never tasted before. I had a few cups of it before, and it was indeed excellent."

Jiang Yan broke the mud seal and poured wine.

As soon as Fang Yi opened the glass, Jiang Xingjian smelled the aroma of the wine. He raised his eyebrows slightly as he looked at the honey-colored liquid in the glass.

"May I ask what your friend's background is?"

Jiang Yan smiled and said, "I come from humble beginnings and have no reputation whatsoever."

Jiang Xingjian picked up the wine bowl and tasted it carefully. Then he said, "This wine is called 'Full Palace Fragrance,' and it comes from the Imperial Palace. I was fortunate enough to taste it when I went to a banquet in the palace with my father when I was young."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan's handsome brows furrowed. Seeing that he didn't seem to be faking it, Jiang Xingjian couldn't help but say, "People in the martial arts world have many connections; perhaps they came from nowhere."

"For him to share something so precious with you shows a truly good friendship."

After saying that, Jiang Xingjian drank it all in one gulp.

The wine was intoxicating, and he was already preoccupied with his own worries. After drinking more than half a jar, his vision became blurred, and he could no longer distinguish between the King of Xiang and the Goddess.

"My brother is drunk."

Jiang Yan spoke up, but Jiang Xingjian's gaze froze. After a long while, he murmured, "Right now, I'm actually envious of you."

What's wrong with being a son born out of wedlock?

As a son born out of wedlock, he was not burdened with the responsibility of revitalizing the family business, nor was he subject to the control of the palace. As a son born out of wedlock, Jiang Yan could be carefree and leisurely.

"What's wrong with being a son born out of wedlock?"

Jiang Xingjian murmured softly, and Jiang Yan lowered his eyes and remained silent upon hearing this.

How could he not want the status of the legitimate son?

After a long silence, Jiang Yan poured the wine from his bowl aside, pointed to the already drunk Jiang Xingjian, and said, "See the Marquis off..."

"Lan Courtyard, take me back to Lan Courtyard."

Jiang Xingjian murmured softly, as if calling out Song Wan's name a few times.

Jiang Yan pressed his thin lips together, his face turning from red to white the instant he heard the name. He stared at Jiang Xingjian for a long while, then said with a gloomy expression, "Send the Marquis to Huaisu's room."

When Qingzhai went to find Huaisu, she was in her room sewing an inner garment for Jiang Xingjian. She had always been Jiang Xingjian's personal maid, and although she had been elevated to the status of concubine, there was no difference between her and her previous life.

She knew that Jiang Xingjian might have feelings for Song Wan or Lin Jiayue, but she never cared about them.

She liked Jiang Xingjian; being by his side was enough for her.

But Huaisu never imagined that she would one day become his bedmate.

Seeing her beloved drunk, Huaisu blushed and helped him change his clothes and wash up.

The next morning, Jiang Xingjian felt a warmth in his arms, as if he were holding a soft, fragrant body. His mind was still not clear, and he thought he was in Lin Jiayue's room.

Once the sluggishness and confusion from the hangover subsided, he realized that the person in his arms was much fuller-figured than Lin Jiayue, who was still ill.

Jiang Xingjian suddenly froze, as if he couldn't believe what he was thinking.

"Wan'er?"

Huaisu kept his eyes open, but did not turn around.

She was ashamed to face Jiang Xingjian, ashamed of taking advantage of his vulnerability, and even more distressed that the person she had served since childhood had never had any feelings for her.

As soon as Song Wanzhi's name was uttered, Jiang Xingjian sensed something was amiss.

Given Wan'er's personality, she would never let him come into the room drunk, so how could she...

Jiang Xingjian got up on his own, while Huaisu, blushing, stared at him blankly, wrapped in the quilt.

"Change your clothes."

Seeing that he didn't ask a single question about what happened last night, Huaisu suddenly didn't know whether to be happy or sad.

"Please wait a moment, my lord."

After quickly dressing, Huaisu hurriedly got out of bed to serve Jiang Xingjian. Just as she finished dressing him, Shizhu came to report that Songyan had been waiting in the outer courtyard for a long time, wondering what important event had occurred.

Jiang Xingjian pressed his temples, enduring the headache, and found Song Yan: "What happened that you're so anxious?"

Songyan lowered her voice and whispered in his ear, "It's bad news, my lord, the palace is about to change."

"A letter arrived from the palace yesterday, saying that Lord Yin died suddenly in the middle of the night, while the Crown Prince... the Crown Prince has woken up."

"Although he is still seriously ill, he has indeed regained consciousness."

Jiang Xingjian was shocked upon hearing this: "Duan Yiting died suddenly? Wasn't he perfectly fine when he came to the Marquis's residence yesterday?"

Songyan pursed her lips, her face also showing worry.

Song Wan learned of these two pieces of news half a day later. When she heard that Duan Yiting had suddenly died, she broke out in a cold sweat.

He clearly came to the Marquis's residence during the day, how could he have disappeared overnight...?

Looking at the shawl from yesterday, Song Wan suppressed her fear and asked Hengzhi to bring a brazier to burn it to ashes.

Seeing the fire slowly engulfing everything, she said worriedly, "The weather is about to change. I hope my aunt and the Third Prince are safe."